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Good Night, Little Bear
First a story, and then a kiss from Mother Bear, and Father Bear carries Little Bear to bed. And that's when the fun begins. Father Bear gets to Little Bear's room, but Little Bear is missing! Little readers will see him hiding in the MOST obvious place but Father Bear cannot seem to find him. Is he under the stove? Is he in the garden? Is he in the woodbox? Only when Father Bear walks past the mirror does the silliness end, and in a very tasty way. With this, one of the most charming bedtime tales ever, Richard Scarry has once again proven his timeless appeal.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
8 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Patricia M. Scarry
89 books20 followersWife of author-illustrator Richard Scarry, Patsy often collaborated with him and with other children's books creators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 4, 2025
This is an adorable bedtime story! I have fond memories of my father doing the very same thing as Father Bear (though I don't recall it ever being at night, but usually during the day). I recommend this special tale for your next bedtime read!
Ages: 2 - 6
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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Ages: 2 - 6
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
May 29, 2019
Now Richard Scarry's accompanying pictures for Good Night, Little Bear are of course and like always delightfully detailed (almost a trifle overly busy for my older adult aesthetics but young children will most likely simply adore the presented, imaginatively and sweetly rendered, colourfully hued scenes, from Little Bear and his parents to the myriad of diverse objects gracing the Bear family home). And albeit that author Patricia M. Scarry's narrative (and Patricia M. Scarry is Richard Scarry's wife) about Little Bear and his father's bedtime routine (or rather their bedtime shenanigans) will likely tickle the funny bone of the intended audience, of in particular young children who might not really want to go to bed and always seem to dream of postponing this in some manner (and of course hopefully also in an amusingly fun fashion, such as how in Good Night, Little Bear, the father pretends to not know that his little son is hiding on top of his head whilst they are playing hide and seek), sorry, but especially Father Bear giving a large chunk of chocolate cake to Little Bear, to his son, right smack before bedtime, I personally do not consider this either all that healthy or a good parenting strategy.
For yes indeed, even though my personal rather negative reaction with regard to especially that chocolate cake scenario in Good Night, Little Bear might perhaps be deemed and seen as a bit overly pedantic, well we also do definitely now know that it is generally not advisable and healthy to consume or to have your children consume rich, sugary and calorie heavy foods immediately prior to bedtime. And considering that most young children certainly do very much enjoy eating things such as chocolate cake (and other similar types of snacks), I for one would definitely be a bit worried that after having Good Night, Little Bear read to them, young children might well also want their own and personal chocolate cake before bedtime or to stay up late and play hide and seek just because Little Bear and yes even his father seem to be doing precisely this before retiring.
Still Good Night , Little Bear is definitely a cute and tenderly sweet enough bedtime story, and perhaps I am indeed being a bit too one-sided and anal about Patricia M. Scarry's tale of bedtime high-jinks (but yes, I do kind of worry how particularly the chocolate cake before bedtime part might play itself out in reality, as I am pretty darn sure that if my mother had read Good Night, Little Bear to me when I was a young child, when I was the age of the intended audience, I would most probably have then demanded and wanted chocolate cake or some other sweet and unwholesome snack for my own bedtime indulgence).
For yes indeed, even though my personal rather negative reaction with regard to especially that chocolate cake scenario in Good Night, Little Bear might perhaps be deemed and seen as a bit overly pedantic, well we also do definitely now know that it is generally not advisable and healthy to consume or to have your children consume rich, sugary and calorie heavy foods immediately prior to bedtime. And considering that most young children certainly do very much enjoy eating things such as chocolate cake (and other similar types of snacks), I for one would definitely be a bit worried that after having Good Night, Little Bear read to them, young children might well also want their own and personal chocolate cake before bedtime or to stay up late and play hide and seek just because Little Bear and yes even his father seem to be doing precisely this before retiring.
Still Good Night , Little Bear is definitely a cute and tenderly sweet enough bedtime story, and perhaps I am indeed being a bit too one-sided and anal about Patricia M. Scarry's tale of bedtime high-jinks (but yes, I do kind of worry how particularly the chocolate cake before bedtime part might play itself out in reality, as I am pretty darn sure that if my mother had read Good Night, Little Bear to me when I was a young child, when I was the age of the intended audience, I would most probably have then demanded and wanted chocolate cake or some other sweet and unwholesome snack for my own bedtime indulgence).
June 3, 2009
I love this book first and foremost for its beautiful and slightly irreverent illustrations.
The front page story of the newspaper Father Bear is reading on the first page is "Superbeehive Opens." Father Bear is wearing his smoking jacket sitting in what is very clearly his chair w/ his bunny-slippered feet resting on a fringed ottoman, smoking a pipe and watching Smokey the Bear on television. Who wouldn't want this Daddy to put you to bed every night? You know you're in for a good time!
I would prefer that Mother Bear was not shown sewing at the end of the day, but from the looks of it, she's having a good time. Clearly it's a satisfying hobby and not yet another thankless chore she's been saddled w/ by virtue of her gender.
And I LOVE how Father Bear shoos those "fat little rabbits" out of the Bear's garden. You just know that if they were skinny rabbits he would have said "eat up skinny little rabbits! Eat up! You're wasting away! There's more where that came from!"
I'm a little peeved that Father Bear gives Little Bear a massive piece of chocolate cake just before bed. And even more peeved that he then hands his son over to Mother Bear who has just now gotten up from her sewing machine and sat down on the couch. The lady has been resting for what cannot be more than two pages and you're already handing your son back to her w/ a piece of chocolate cake and no plate!? Come on Father Bear! NOT cool.
All in all though, I really love this book. I'd like to see a modernized sequel: "Good Night, Little Bears" where Mother Bear is out w/ her friends for the evening and Little Bear has two even littler siblings.
The front page story of the newspaper Father Bear is reading on the first page is "Superbeehive Opens." Father Bear is wearing his smoking jacket sitting in what is very clearly his chair w/ his bunny-slippered feet resting on a fringed ottoman, smoking a pipe and watching Smokey the Bear on television. Who wouldn't want this Daddy to put you to bed every night? You know you're in for a good time!
I would prefer that Mother Bear was not shown sewing at the end of the day, but from the looks of it, she's having a good time. Clearly it's a satisfying hobby and not yet another thankless chore she's been saddled w/ by virtue of her gender.
And I LOVE how Father Bear shoos those "fat little rabbits" out of the Bear's garden. You just know that if they were skinny rabbits he would have said "eat up skinny little rabbits! Eat up! You're wasting away! There's more where that came from!"
I'm a little peeved that Father Bear gives Little Bear a massive piece of chocolate cake just before bed. And even more peeved that he then hands his son over to Mother Bear who has just now gotten up from her sewing machine and sat down on the couch. The lady has been resting for what cannot be more than two pages and you're already handing your son back to her w/ a piece of chocolate cake and no plate!? Come on Father Bear! NOT cool.
All in all though, I really love this book. I'd like to see a modernized sequel: "Good Night, Little Bears" where Mother Bear is out w/ her friends for the evening and Little Bear has two even littler siblings.
October 26, 2018
Here's another oldie. It definitely shows its age, although it still has its charm. I found the first illustration pretty amusing, with Father Bear smoking his pipe and watching TV, which just happens to have Smokey Bear on it. (Can you imagine how many forest fires there would be if bears could smoke?)
Reading this book from a modern perspective, though, is a little uncomfortable. It's kind of sexist, and it doesn't exactly portray good parenting (unless giving your child a giant slice of chocolate cake when you're putting them to bed is some new tactic that I'm not aware of).
Plus, given the inconsistencies and odd little details in the illustrations, there are plenty of questions that children may ask while (or after) reading this book:
"Mommy, can I hide under the kitchen stove?"
"Daddy, why does a bear need fur mittens?"
"Mommy, why do the bears keep a pot of sticky honey in the living room? Why isn't it in the kitchen?"
"Daddy, why don't the little bunnies have to go to bed, too? Why do they get to stay up and eat lettuce from the garden?"
"Mommy, how did Mama Bear's sewing machine end up in a different room? Did she carry it?"
"Daddy, why can't I have chocolate cake for a bedtime snack?"
"Mommy, is Father Bear actually Mike Pence? Why doesn't he use Mother Bear's actual name?"
Quotable moment:
Reading this book from a modern perspective, though, is a little uncomfortable. It's kind of sexist, and it doesn't exactly portray good parenting (unless giving your child a giant slice of chocolate cake when you're putting them to bed is some new tactic that I'm not aware of).
Plus, given the inconsistencies and odd little details in the illustrations, there are plenty of questions that children may ask while (or after) reading this book:
"Mommy, can I hide under the kitchen stove?"
"Daddy, why does a bear need fur mittens?"
"Mommy, why do the bears keep a pot of sticky honey in the living room? Why isn't it in the kitchen?"
"Daddy, why don't the little bunnies have to go to bed, too? Why do they get to stay up and eat lettuce from the garden?"
"Mommy, how did Mama Bear's sewing machine end up in a different room? Did she carry it?"
"Daddy, why can't I have chocolate cake for a bedtime snack?"
"Mommy, is Father Bear actually Mike Pence? Why doesn't he use Mother Bear's actual name?"
Quotable moment:
"Who said Ouch?" asks Father Bear.
"Mother, did you say Ouch?"
"Not I," smiles Mother Bear.
Oh she is a tease.
January 1, 2025
"Do you think Father Bear knew the whole time?"
The malicious nature of Scarry by leaving us with such an open ended question is daring to be sure, but I think pays off enormously as an ending. My personal belief is no one can be capable of knowledge of anything the "whole time". Such a period encompasses the infinity that preludes and exceeds our mortal lifespans. If there is a God maybe they are capable, but Father Bear certainly isn't.
The classism explored in the book was my favorite topic. With the Bear family living luxuriously in a mansion of a cabin we expect this to be the norm. But we get 3 examples of their elitism throughout the story. We see a family of rabbits ravaging the Bear's garden, clearly a metaphor for the discarded veterans that nibble at what little they can find. There is the mouse dwelling within the Bear's belongings, the unfortunate children that fall through the cracks of society. And easily missed is Papa Bear's own discarded mitten, seemingly made of bear fur. Clearly representing the fact that those on top are only there because they have no qualms with discarding those closest to them to get a little higher up the totem pole. I love that the mitten itself is discarded because this bear was not skinned and tannered for even a "good" reason. They simply were in the way of Papa Bear. Perhaps this could be explored in a spin-off prequel.
The malicious nature of Scarry by leaving us with such an open ended question is daring to be sure, but I think pays off enormously as an ending. My personal belief is no one can be capable of knowledge of anything the "whole time". Such a period encompasses the infinity that preludes and exceeds our mortal lifespans. If there is a God maybe they are capable, but Father Bear certainly isn't.
The classism explored in the book was my favorite topic. With the Bear family living luxuriously in a mansion of a cabin we expect this to be the norm. But we get 3 examples of their elitism throughout the story. We see a family of rabbits ravaging the Bear's garden, clearly a metaphor for the discarded veterans that nibble at what little they can find. There is the mouse dwelling within the Bear's belongings, the unfortunate children that fall through the cracks of society. And easily missed is Papa Bear's own discarded mitten, seemingly made of bear fur. Clearly representing the fact that those on top are only there because they have no qualms with discarding those closest to them to get a little higher up the totem pole. I love that the mitten itself is discarded because this bear was not skinned and tannered for even a "good" reason. They simply were in the way of Papa Bear. Perhaps this could be explored in a spin-off prequel.
June 10, 2019
Oh I love stories that capture exactly the kinds or parent-child interactions that I had with my children. We loved pretending to fool or trick each other, even though of course we knew it was all pretend on both sides.
Avl. on open library
Avl. on open library
September 14, 2014
In this 1961 reissue, on his way to tucking Little Bear to bed, Father pretends not to know that Baby Bear is on his shoulders. He looks for Little Bear under the sheets, on the stove, outside the house, in the woodbox, on top of the china cabinet, and eventually sees him in the mirror. The first picture of Father Bear shows him smoking a pipe, connecting smoking to a warm positive loving character. It's also humorous that Smokey the Bear is shown on TV in the background since smoking is the cause of many home fires. Our society should not be encouraging smoking, especially with young impressionable children.
February 6, 2015
Little Bear’s bedtime turns into a romp sure to be relished by little ones. After the usual story and kiss from Mother Bear, Father Bear carries Little Bear to bed. But where is Little Bear? Tots, of course, can clearly see him on Father Bear’s shoulders. But Father Bear plays “clueless dad” to the whole scenario. As he scours the house from room to room, questioning Little Bear’s whereabouts, the silliness mounts to its obvious conclusion as Father Bear passes the mirror and discovers Little Bear has been on his shoulders all along. The story has enduring appeal as do the vibrant illustrations, and being in on the joke only adds to the fun. Order if needed.
October 28, 2010
One of my childhood faves!
November 30, 2019
Last night's final bedtime story
March 30, 2024
3.5 stars. Lovely bedtime book.
September 4, 2025
My daughter would ask for this to be read to her time and again over the years. Playful and uplifting.
July 25, 2019
One of my favorite books growing up! I most remember reading it when I visited my Godparents's house and I read it over and over and over.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the June 2019: Celebrating Richard Scarry discussion for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the June 2019: Celebrating Richard Scarry discussion for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
May 22, 2015
Meh. The art is great, and the story full of joy, but I hate to have to give disclaimers after I read picture books. No, I will not be extending your bedtime just to walk around the house with you on my shoulders AND THEN FEED YOU CHOCOLATE CAKE! Seriously? Does no one in the bear household respect oral hygiene? Or a bedtime routine that does not result in a kid on a sugar buzz?
August 15, 2014
I thought this story was cute... Until I imagined my kids behaving like the cub in the story! Once would be cute but when you have multiple kids who insist on being "cute" more than once... Let's just say I don't want to put any ideas in their little heads :)
November 2, 2015
This was such a sweet an dear little book, and it's a great thing to read to your kids before they go to bed.
December 17, 2018
Little Bear and his papa have a funny goodnight ritual. This one has been fun, funny, and relatable for generations of kids.
July 22, 2025
Here's a good one. A simple story about bedtime. It's lighthearted and heartwarming. The dad bear is so stereotypical of the father figure in the 50s, oh well. He's smoking his pipe with a smoking jacket on.
Little bear gets on dad's shoulders and hide and dad pretends to find little bear before bed. They have fun with each other.
The artwork is warm, cozy and comforting. This is all artwork from the 60s like it is.
Great for toddlers.
Little bear gets on dad's shoulders and hide and dad pretends to find little bear before bed. They have fun with each other.
The artwork is warm, cozy and comforting. This is all artwork from the 60s like it is.
Great for toddlers.
February 6, 2019
This is a sweet story that is great fun to read to the little ones (and not so little ones) in your life.
This was one of my favorite books when I was younger. I introduced it to my niece when she was small and it quickly became her favorite bedtime story when she spent the night. This weekend we introduced it to my nephew (who enjoyed it just as much as the rest of us).
This was one of my favorite books when I was younger. I introduced it to my niece when she was small and it quickly became her favorite bedtime story when she spent the night. This weekend we introduced it to my nephew (who enjoyed it just as much as the rest of us).
March 4, 2023
Another sweet Little Golden Book, first published in 1961. Richard Scarry’s illustrations are as lovely as ever, and the charming story does not disappoint! It was a fun re-read for me, can recall snuggling up with my own little ones, tucking them in and cracking open the cover of this heartwarming little book.
February 8, 2020
Loved this book as a kid. Still have it packed away somewhere. Looking forward to reading it to my kids. Hopefully they love Richard Scarry as much as I did, just have to find some of his books again.
July 17, 2017
Reviews with Spencer
CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!!
CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!!
July 19, 2017
Mom read me this book that we borrowed from the library.
July 31, 2017
One of my favorites as a little kid!!
September 24, 2017
This was, hands down, my favorite bed time story to have my Dad read to me when I was a young child. I re-read it for the 2018 reading challenge ("#25, a book you loved as a child").
December 28, 2017
My little brother laughed every time I read this to him. Thank you.
March 3, 2018
My 2yo enjoyed this one. Always love the illustrations.
March 16, 2019
Love book
February 23, 2020
A baby bear and his father get ready for bed and have some fun. Preschool and up
April 18, 2020
This was really cute. The pictures were well done and the story rally has the playful feel throughout. Not sure it’s the best bedtime story though, as the kids felt way too playful afterwards.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews